Holiday Trigger Take Down

Triggers. Temptations. Pitfalls. They exist in copious amounts during the holidays. And they run the gamut! Diets are destroyed, political barriers are blown away, norms are tossed out the window, and a lot of that is accepted – even joked about – during this time of year. This sort of attitude toward temptation can be doubly horrid for someone who is on their sobriety or recovery journey. Addicts run into all manner of additional temptations during the holiday season, made worse by the fact that traveling, socializing, sleeping in guest rooms, etc. can all have a detrimental effect on the body and mind. We’ve put together a few tips to help you ensure that a Thanksgiving and Christmas season entered sober can be gone through and exited sober as well.

new year and resolution

2019 New Year’s Resolutions for People in Recovery

2018 is almost up and that means it is time to think of your goals for the new year! For the upcoming year, it is normal to wish to lose weight, save more, find a new love or make career changes. And what do all these resolutions have in common? These goals are made to improve the overall quality of one’s life. The only problem is these goals end up not being followed through because they aren’t personal enough and there is a lack of commitment.

For the new year, think of resolutions that are specific to you and that are something you are ready to commit to and see through during your journey to recovery. Here are four resolutions to get you started:

self awareness

Why Recovery Begins with Self Awareness

Why is being aware of your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors so critical to your recovery process? These are responses that can be typically found in the subconscious part of your brain, and it is necessary to lead those thought processes to the conscious area to experience positive change. Self-awareness is a necessary skill to deal with the challenges that one experiences throughout their life.

Identify patterns of self-destructive thinking and behaviors

Discussing various thoughts and urges that can be relapsing warnings (both in a group and one-on-one setting) can be beneficial in identifying signs that can turn into destructive behavior. Having a safe place to discuss topics that you may be ashamed to open up about can lift the weight of the anxiety that can lead to relapse.

recovery

Why Should Recovery Be Personalized?

Just like people, recovery processes are not created equal. Makes sense right? Addictions affect people differently. A unique combination of personal history, health conditions and social factors all play a role in drug abuse. This is why personalized addiction treatments are necessary. Recognizing your unique traits is part of making sure you receive quality treatment.

How People Develop an Addiction

There are many reasons as to how you might develop an addiction to drugs. Due to a family history of substance abuse or addiction, some people are more susceptible.

doctor giving relapse prevention tips

Relapse Prevention Tips to Keep Your Recovery on Track

Not everyone is equally strong and has the same willpower. Thoughts about drugs or alcohol are a common thing after detox, and they’re completely normal. If you, or someone you love still long for an addictive substance from the past, even after you’ve been officially “clean” for a while, don’t beat yourself about it. It’s important to understand the most common triggers and prevent them by minimizing the chances of responding to them. Here are some tips for relapse prevention.